Page 95 of Deep Tide

Sean spotted the light glowing in the shop and whipped into the parking lot. He pulled into a space near the door beside an old Subaru. As Sean slid from his car, the door to the coffee shop opened, and a skinny man in black walked out.

“Hey, is Leyla around?” Sean asked, catching the door before it closed.

“She’s in back with Siena.”

“Thanks.”

Sean walked in and cut through the eating area into the kitchen. Siena stood at the sink with her back to the door.

“Hi.”

She turned around. “Oh, hey, Sean.” She smiled. “Leyla’s still unloading.”

“Thanks.”

Sean walked down the hall, frustrated. What good was a top-of-the-line security system if no one used basic common sense? He found Leyla alone in the parking lot dragging a big plastic tub from the back of her SUV. At least her new floodlights were working. Someone would have no trouble choosing the perfect moment to ambush her while she had her hands full.

“Hi.”

She jumped and turned around. “Oh, hey. You scared me.”

“Sorry.” He took the tub from her hands.

“Thanks.” She wiped her forehead with the back of her arm. She wore all black, including tight-fitting jeans and high-heeled ankle boots. It wasn’t chef’s attire, so he guessed she’d had to double as a server tonight.

“How’d it go?” He didn’t bother to ask where she’d been.

“Fine,” she said, grabbing another tub from the back. She set it on the ground and then closed the hatch.

“Stack that on mine,” he said.

“I can get it.”

She hefted her tub and led him to the back door. Leaning the load against the wall, she tapped a code into the panel beside the door. A light flashed green.

Sean opened the door and held it for her.

“Thanks. We can just put these down here.”

“You don’t want them in the kitchen?”

“I’ll deal with them tomorrow. Here, come into my office.”

They set the tubs down, and she led him into a windowless room with a small wooden desk and a pair of metal file cabinets. Squeezing around the desk, she pulled open a drawer. She dropped an envelope inside—probably her payment—and then glanced up.

“How was your night?” she asked.

“Boring. How was yours?”

She walked around the desk and propped her hip on the corner. “Long.” She blew out a sigh and rubbed the back of her neck. “I thought we’d never get out of there.”

He stepped closer, gazing down at her. Her makeup was smudged and some of her hair had fallen out of her bun.

“I’ve driven by here about ten times.”

Her brow furrowed. “Why?”

“It’s late. I was worried.” He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Who was at the party?”

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